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Coyotes on the prowl after lean years

It's simple, the Great One said, pointing to the Ottawa Senators, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins as the models for his Phoenix Coyotes.

"They had to go down to the bottom before they could come back up," Gretzky said. "You get players like Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby and Jason Spezza because you're not a good team. It's pretty simple."

Leafs coach Ron Wilson said rebuilding can be easier said than done, especially with teams tight against the salary cap and an economic climate that could curtail spending.

"It's not easy to rebuild because of the restrictions in the cap system," Wilson said. "If you have to trade someone for a first-round pick, the other team has to have the space in the cap to take that player on.

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"We're getting a double whammy this year because so many teams are close to the cap and the economy is tightening everybody's belt. No one knows where the cap is going to be next year.

"It's not easy. Everybody sees that. You've got to keep your young players and make them better."

The Coyotes are three years into a rebuilding program, going with youth, with four rookies and four sophomores on the team.

"It takes time, it doesn't happen overnight," Gretzky said. "This is our third year of putting this group together. A couple of years ago, we started dealing players to stockpile draft picks and getting extra draft picks.

"That's what we did. Right now, the thing about our team (is) we know we're getting better ... and two months from now we're going to be better than we are today."

The Coyotes did well in last summer's draft, using a pair of first-round picks to land Mikkel Boedker, chosen eighth overall, and Viktor Tikhonov, 28th overall. They both made the team this season.

"When you leave a draft and have two guys that can step right in, it's always a good thing," Gretzky said. "We're really happy at how Boedker has filled an important role for us," Gretzky said. "With his speed, he's18 years old and killing penalties and on the power play. His speed is NHL speed.

"Tikhonov has done everything we've asked of him. We're thrilled with those two guys."

Boedker had five goals and six assists going into last night's game against the Leafs. "We're working hard every night," he said. "It's a huge confidence boost when Wayne tells you to go out in the last minute and stuff like that."

Kyle Turris, picked third overall in 2007, is having a rougher start to his NHL career after leaving college after one year. He was benched by Gretzky earlier this season.

"Kyle's got a lot of pride," Gretzky said. "He's a young man who's used to playing 20 minutes a game and has been a dominant force on his junior team and college team and world junior team.

"But it's a step – a big step – to go from college hockey to the NHL. He's a young kid who's going to be around for a long time. He's as smart as any player we have on our team. He just needs to get that experience."

But stockpiling young talent comes at a price: losing. And that can be frustrating, captain Shane Doan said. "It's a grind. You get jealous of seeing the success that other teams have. You want that. I think that's what drives you, what makes you come back and want to win.

"You can't enjoy going through it, but at the same time you have to."

Gretzky said the Coyotes are ready to take the next step.

"We want to make the playoffs," he said. "It will be a huge step forward for our team. We talked about it every day. We're right there knocking on the door."

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